France in Laos - Ambassade de France au Laos

France in Laos
Newsletter of the French Embassy in Laos
Issue no. 22 July-September 2011
Photo: C.Adam
Picture of the month
Located in the heart of the Mekong subregion, Vientiane is at the
crossroads of increasing migratory and trade flows. The capital of
Laos must implement an adapted urban planning strategy to guarantee
its sustainable development.
Table of contents
A word from the Ambassador
3
Event
3
Inauguration of the Namone drinking water
network and surface water treatment
plant
Economy
The new European Chamber of Commerce
and Industry as seen by its Chairman
4
Cooperation
5
Development of partnerships between France
and three Lao associations
Francophonie
The Hoffet Lycée won the « Dis-moi dix mots
qui nous relient » competition
6
Portrait
Luc Delneuville, director of Handicap
International in Laos, retires
7
Special feature
8-9
Vientiane, the emerging capital, hosted the
seminar on urbanisation in Southeast Asia
What's on at the French Institute?
Let's make music!
10
Address book
Tailor-made fashion by Couleur d’Asie
11
Art and culture
Focus on the latest productions by EFEO
Josué Hoffet Lycée
« PATRIMONITO » competition
The footballers of the Hoffet Lycée on tour in
Malaysia
12
13
Association
A message from Vientiane Accueil
14
News in brief
15
Event
A word from the
Ambassador
The Spring of 2011 was marked by several developments which attest
to the dynamism of Franco-Laotian relations. In the past few months,
two Lao ministers have travelled to France and there has been considerable progress in several of our cooperation programmes in key sectors such as urban development, health, higher education, research
and culture.
In June, Mr Sommad Pholsena, the minister of Public works and Transport, and Mr Phouphet Khamphounvong, minister and governor of the
Lao Central Bank, travelled to France as part of a State visit aimed at
reinforcing trade and financial exchanges between our two countries.
A day of discussions on decentralised Franco-Laotian cooperation was
also organised in Lyon on 16 June, attended by Messrs Khouanta Phalivong, Lao Ambassador to France, and Kambay Damlat, governor of
the Khammouane province. The purpose of this session was to raise
the awareness of the potential cooperation between the two countries
and involve new players in this relationship between French territorial
authorities and the provinces of Laos. Mr Jean-Jack Queyranne, president of the Rhône-Alpes region, and the governor of Vientiane took
this opportunity to sign a new multi-year decentralised cooperation
agreement.
Inauguration of the Namone
drinking water network and
surface water treatment plant
T
he Namone drinking water
network
and
surface
water treatment plant were
inaugurated on Friday 20 May
2011 in the presence of Mr
Bounchanh Sinthavong, viceminister of Public Works and
Transport, Mr
Khammeung
Phongthady, governor of the
Vientiane province, Mr Yves Le
Bars, chairman of the GRET,
and Mr François Sénémaud, the
French ambassador to Laos.
Created as part of the MIREP
programme
(mini-drinking
water networks) coordinated
by the technological research
and European Affairs (MAEE),
the AFD, the city of Paris and the
UN-Habitat agency.
The purpose of these partnerships
between the private and public
sectors is to enable nearly 30,000
Laos residents to have access
to a drinking water network by
2020, via a connection cost of
approximately €50. Six months
after start-up, more than half of
the households of the town of
Namone in the Vangvieng district
(Vientiane province) have already
been connected to the network
and enjoy extremely affordable
drinking water (€0.2/m3).
In terms of development cooperation, the steering committee of the
Priority solidarity Fund dedicated to supporting higher medical education met on 30 May, a few days after the inauguration of a drinking
water plant designed to supply eight villages of the Vang-Vieng district
and financed by French cooperation.This project has been implemented by the GRET, an NGO specialising in rural development.
At the same time,Vientiane hosted the regional seminar on emerging
cities and urbanisation in Southeast Asia, jointly organised by France
and Laos on the theme of the challenges faced by second-generation
emerging cities in terms of urban planning and governance. Finally, to
mark the beginning of summer, the traditional Music Festival attracted a large audience to the three stages proposed this year by the
French Institute in Laos.
A few days later, the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry
organised, in partnership with the Embassy, the CGPME and the
France-Asie Association, a presentation of Laos to the businesses of the
Rhône-Alpes region, with the participation of the Laos section of the
French Foreign Trade advisors and the European Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Laos.
The 14th of July Party at the French Embassy will enable us to celebrate the values of the Republic and bring together, in a festive atmosphere, the many Lao and French stakeholders who sustain our
relationship.
Best regards,
François Sénémaud
France in Laos
The representatives of the different cooperation stakeholders
prepare to cut the inaugural ribbon
and exchange group (GRET),
this new drinking water service
makes it possible to supply 805
homes in the villages of Namone,
Phonesavang, Namngad and
Vangheua. This is the sixth out of
the nine rural towns supported by
the MIREP programme, launched
in 2004 with the joint financial
backing of the Water Syndicate of
the Île-de-France region (SEDIF),
the French ministry of Foreign
MIREP, a French-Lao cooperation
programme, is part of the
development strategy of the Lao
government, the objective of
which is to make drinking water
available to two million deprived
inhabitants by 2020.
3
Agenda
JULY
Wednesday 6
Steering committee of the Priority solidarity Fund
project (FSP) Vat Phou
Thursday 14
Bastille Day celebration in the French Embassy
AUGUST
End of the month
Launch of the French Embassy's new website
SEPTEMBER
Wednesday 31 August - Friday 2 September
Conference of ambassadors in Paris
Wednesday 14
Meeting on Chinese language and writing at the
French Institute
Friday 23
Lao show at the French Institute - Theatre of
objects
Economy
The new European Chamber
of Commerce and Industry
as seen by its Chairman
I
naugurated on 10 May 2011, the European Chamber
of Commerce and Industry in Laos is finding its
feet. Mr Guy Apovy, its Chairman, presents this new
structure:
What are the major missions of the new European
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Laos
(ECCIL)?
The purpose of this Chamber is to develop the commercial
network of European companies involved in Laos, notably
by promoting European economic interests and trade, by
helping its members to develop and by encouraging the
establishment of new European companies. The mission
of the Euro-Chamber is also to improve its members'
understanding of the Lao market (economic and business
environment etc.). Finally, it is involved in the "Lao Business
Forum", during which members of the private sector meet
with the public sector.
Since the inauguration on 10 May 2011, what has the
ECCIL worked on?
First of all, I should point out that the current Board of the
Chamber was elected by the members in April 2011. Secondly,
in early June, a delegation travelled to Bangkok to meet with
the European Union Trade advisors during their monthly
meeting, as well as the representatives of the different bilateral
Chambers of commerce (French, German, Belgian-Dutch
etc.) to discuss Laos and be featured on their website. We
also moved into our temporary offices provided by Banque
4
Franco-Lao, on the 5th floor
of the building on Lane Xang
Avenue. On Wednesday 15
June, we finally organised our
first cocktail party with the
members.
Could you please detail the composition of the
Board of the European Chamber of Commerce and
Industry in Lao?
The Board is currently made up of 11 members, four of whom
have specific functions: in addition to myself as Chairman,
Mrs Duangmala Phommavong (Lao) and Mr Gerald Walewijk
(Belgian) are the two vice-chairs, while Mr Olivier de
Peyrelongue (French) is the Chamber's treasurer. I should
also mention Mr Ramon Bruesseler (German), who is the
salaried director of the Euro-Chamber.
What are the future ambitions of the European
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Laos?
For the moment, the ECCIL has about fifty member companies
from different sectors (banking, insurance, tourism, industry
etc.) and our objective is to have 80 members before the end
of the year. Laos is home to nearly 200 European companies,
and our aim is for at least half of them to be affiliated with
the Euro-Chamber. In September, the first delegation of
European investors will travel to meet us in Laos. The ECCIL
will eventually need to find new premises adapted to its level
of development.
France in Laos
Cooperation
Development of partnerships between France
and three Lao associations
I
n May 2011, Mr François Sénémaud, French Ambassador in Laos, signed three partnership agreements with
local Lao associations for a total amount of nearly €140,000. The funds were allocated as part of the FSD
(Social development fund), a scheme implemented in early 2010 by the Embassy's Cooperation and Cultural
Activities Services (SCAC) with a view to supporting the growth and structure of civil society in Laos.
The initial project plans to allocate € 28,000 to the LDWDC
(Lao Disabled Women Development Centre), a shelter and
rehabilitation centre for Lao disabled women.
in a rural environment, the association decided to change its
name to "Gender Development Group" in 1996, which is a
better reflection of its activities.
Located near the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, the Lao
Disabled Women Development Centre is primarily a shelter
for disabled women. Living up to its motto, "enabling the
disabled", the centre provides its residents with vocational
training through various manual workshops such as sewing,
weaving, massage or an introduction to reiki, a Japanese
energising treatment technique.
The current project aims at liberating isolated minorities
living in the Sangthong district by training them in incomegenerating activities while urging them to think about the
role of women in a rural environment. To combat poverty,
men are trained in working with bamboo while women are
encouraged to opt for textile crafts.
Finally, the French Embassy
also contributed € 58,000
to the Lao Red Cross to
help them develop its road
safety and first aid projects.
The LDWDC supports
and helps these women by
selling the different objects
produced during these
training workshops. The
primary objective of the
centre is to help women
comprehend and accept
their disability by providing
them with alternative
career opportunities.
In the next two years,
the
money
allocated
should enable the Lao
Red Cross to organise its
Vientiane-based units while
enhancing the training
of its volunteers. With
this financial partnership,
France's ultimate purpose
is to help reinforce the
Lao Red Cross volunteers'
mobilisation, organisation
and action capabilities.
A second subsidy of
approximately € 50,000
was allocated to GDG
(Gender
Development
Group), a group working
on
gender
policies
and
fighting
against
discrimination within the
villages and minorities of
the Sangthong district
(Vientiane province).
Set up in 1991 under the
initial name of "Women in
Development", the GDG is
the result of a partnership
between UNICEF and
the Lao Women's Union
(LWU). Focused on curbing
domestic violence and
supporting gender equality
France in Laos
Located near the Friendship Bridge, the Laos rehabilitation centre
is a temporary shelter for disabled women (but also men)
and offers them vocational training workshops
5
Francophonie
The Hoffet Lycée won the competition
« Dis-moi dix mots qui nous relient »
I
n May, the Hoffet lycée won the third prize of the literary creation competition "Dis-moi dix mots qui nous
relient" (Tell me ten words that connect us). On this occasion, the troisième class designed a website called "Si
au fil des jours toutes nos mains…" (If as the days pass all our hands...), a project involving stories, slam, images,
poetry or argumentative essays, all based on the word "hand" and the theme of solidarity.
Organised by the ministry of Culture and communication in March
2011, "Dis-moi dix mots qui nous relient" was a literary creation
competition designed for French-speaking collège and lycée pupils
across the world. Participants
included
France,
Quebec,
French-speaking
Switzerland,
the international Organisation
of Francophonie and the French
Community of Belgium. 198 classes
took part in the competition, divided
into three categories (Collège,
General and technological lycée and
Vocational lycée): 41 of these classes
were from schools outside France,
located in 21 different countries.
can be consulted at the following address:
http://siaufildesjours.free.fr/DMDMPLS/HTML/#accueil.html
Following numerous field visits
to Lao associations based in
Vientiane, and thanks to the study
of ten French words, the class
wrote a string of poetic, legendary
or politically committed texts.
This is how Moi, fil de soie (Me,
silk thread), Mon utopie (My
utopia) or Boîte solitaire pour
projet solidaire (Solitary box for
solidarity project) were created,
among many others.
The purposes of the 2010-2011 The two troisième pupils, Nicolas Viretto and Vithida Chanthapha- They were awarded third prize
souk, who came to receive their prize at the Académie française
competition was to stimulate
for their work, during a ceremony
pupils' imagination by playing with the following 10 words: held on 19 May at the Institut de France, the "Scholars' Parliament"
accueillant (welcoming), avec (with), fil (thread), cordée (string), to which the Académie française belongs.Two pupils from the class,
harmonieusement (harmoniously), agapes (feast), réseauter accompanied by their French teacher, were able to travel to Paris
(networking), chœur (choir), complice (accomplice) and main for the award ceremony.The competition winners were given their
(hand). Under the supervision of Mrs Andrée Billavarn, French diploma in the presence of Hélène Carrère d'Encausse, permanent
teacher, Mrs Claudia Valdez, teacher/librarian, and Mr Jean-Marc secretary of the Académie française, Luc Chatel, minister for
Hemmelding, technology teacher, the entire troisième class of the national Education, Xavier Darcos, chairman of the French Institute
Hoffet Lycée embarked on the competition with an ambitious and Xavier North, delegate general for the French language and the
website project called "Si au fil des jours toutes nos mains...", which languages of France.
6
France in Laos
Portrait
Luc Delneuville, director of Handicap International in Laos, retires
H
aving spent 14 years working for Handicap
International Laos, Luc Delneuville's mission
is drawing to a close. He recalls the highlights of his
career.
What are the main programmes implemented by
Handicap Intl in Laos?
We opened an office in Laos in 1996 after launching the first
nationwide survey on the impact of unexploded ordnance
(UXO) in all provinces of the country. On the basis of
this technical study, we supported the national UXO Lao
organisation in 1997 during an initial operation designed
to provide technical assistance to the populations of the
Sepone district (Savannakhet province), one of the most
affected in Laos. Since then, our NGO mandate allowed us
to develop a number of other community assistance projects
responding to the needs of disabled people via different
approaches. We also developed a road safety programme
involving advertising campaigns on the television and radio,
as well as workshops that we present in primary and
secondary schools. Handicap Intl also supports the social
and economic reintegration of disabled people, by giving
them access to prosthetic centres and providing them with
vocational training. Our support sometimes requires the
allocation of micro-credit grants.
It should be pointed out that we always work in partnership
with other organisations: the ministry of Education, the
ministry of Health and its national rehabilitation centre, Lao
associations such as the NRA (National regulatory authority
for the fight against mines and UXO) and the LDPA (Lao
Disabled People's Association), but also many international
organisations such as UNICEF, the UNDP, the WHO, etc.
How would you assess these fifteen years spent at
the head of Handicap Intl in Laos?
I am glad that we were able to adapt our approach and
constantly enhance our collaboration with our partners.
In the past two years, new stakeholders have appeared in
Lao civil society: numerous civic organisations and local
associations have emerged, to whom we try to provide
technical support so that they can take over. By giving them
the benefit of our expertise, we are hoping to diminish our
role as a direct player and progressively start intervening
simply as a technical advisor.
In 2009, Laos signed two important agreements which
present interesting opportunities: the Oslo Treaty, banning
the use of cluster munitions, and the Convention on the
rights of persons with disabilities. Considerable progress
has been made since we arrived in the country and we hope
that these two agreements will help the Lao civil society
move forward and help those concerned.
France in Laos
Luc Delneuville posing beside a cluster munition:
the metal container on the left has been designed
to carry up to one hundred small bombs
Can you give us an example of project that you hold
dear?
In 2009, we implemented an exchange programme enabling
accident survivors to become ambassadors for other
victims from the same community or a wider public. Ten
Lao men and women were trained in the importance of the
international Treaty against cluster munitions, in particular
article 5 which relates to victim assistance. Having been
seriously disabled by this type of accident themselves, these
people are best placed to raise their community's awareness
of the danger they face; they also play a useful role among
national organisations by advocating intervention for other
victims.
This project is particularly dear to me as it allows victims
to become involved in prevention as well as in their own
development.
What are your objectives for the future?
There is so much more to be done! In the near future,
Handicap Intl wishes to consolidate the actions undertaken
with its different partners, while supporting the emergence
of the Lao civil society as much as possible, so as to help it
assert itself and accept its responsibilities. Our support of
local associations consists of creating capabilities and passing
on the knowledge required for autonomous operation. We
would ultimately want to pull out to let local NGOs take over,
which would mean that our work has been successful.
7
Special feature
Vientiane, the emerging capital, hosted the seminar
on urbanisation in Southeast Asia
T
o
discuss
certain
issues relating to the
development of emerging
cities in Southeast Asia, a
region which is home to nearly
600 million people, a two-day
seminar called "Emerging
cities and urbanisation in
Southeast Asia: Challenges
and opportunities – what are
the means for action?" was
held at the Vientiane ICTC
from 20 to 21 June 2011.
Urban growth
Southeast Asia has experienced
an accelerated urban development
process in the past few decades,
which accompanies economic
growth and rapid integration into
the
global
economy.
This
urban growth poses a number
of organisational, social and
environmental problems which
must be addressed by the
authorities and communities.
The seminar on "Emerging cities
and urbanisation in Southeast Asia
- Challenges and opportunities,
what are the means for action?"
addressed, in the form of four halfday sessions, issues relating to urban
governance, land problems, the
preservation of the urban heritage
and the urban environment.
This seminar was organised by the
Lao ministry of Public works and
Transport, in collaboration with
the French Embassy's cooperation
and cultural activities Services
(SCAC), the Bangkok regional
Delegation
for
cooperation
(DREG) and the French Research
Institute for development (IRD).
UN-Habitat, Unesco and the AFD
also gave their support.
8
The seminar on emerging cities was held over two days in front of a packed audience
Focus
Secondary cities (or emerging
cities) are bound, on a regional as
well as wider global scale, to bear
the brunt of worldwide urban
growth in the upcoming decades.
Anticipating the urbanisation of
these emerging cities now, through
strategic choices, can help prevent
the urban plight currently affecting
the "mega-cities" of the subcontinent: excessive institutional
centralisation,
environmental
problems, precarious housing
units, urban poverty, etc.
What kind of urban future for
these emerging cities
Not exclusively limited to megacities, the urban production
globalisation process concerns, in
specific ways, cities caught in the
second wave of this global process.
This delayed integration into the
global economy can be due to
geopolitical (Hanoi, Vientiane,
Phnom Penh etc.), geographical
(Bandung, Indonesia etc.), politico-
economic (Chiang Mai in Thailand
or Cebu in the Philippines) or
economic reasons, with tourist
hubs on the one hand (Bali, Phuket
or Luang Prabang) and port sites
and free trade zones on the other
(Rayong / Penang-Butterworth).
In light of the broad range of
situations and urban dynamics
in Southeast Asia, the seminar
organised in Vientiane did not
claim to "model" the region's future
urban development based on the
urban areas already integrated into
the global economy (for example
Bangkok and Kuala-Lumpur); its
ambition was to identify the assets
and constraints of these emerging
cities in transition in relation to
different perspectives (economic,
environmental, social etc.).
A relatively large and loyal
public
Opened by the vice-minister
of Public works and transport,
Mr Bounchanh Sintavong, the
French Ambassador to Laos,
France in Laos
Mr François Sénémaud, and the
Regional Director of UN-Habitat,
Mr Toshi Noda, the seminar
involved more than 150 people,
civil servants from central and
provincial administrations as well
as teachers and students of the
National University of Laos and
the National Academy of politics
and public administration.
Coordinated by recognised urban
planning researchers under the
supervision of professor Charles
Goldblum, members of the Ministry
of Public works and transport
and development and heritage
professionals (AFD, UN-Habitat,
UNESCO), the presentations and
debates illustrated the diversity
of the development situations and
dynamics in several cities of the
region.
Despite the desire, clearly
expressed by speakers, researchers
and professionals, to highlight the
positive aspects of completed
or ongoing urban development
projects, most presentations
remained objective and did not
hesitate to address the errors of
the past to ensure that they are
not repeated in the new urban
environment improvement projects
in the countries concerned.
Mr François Sénémaud, French Ambassador to Laos, and Mr Bounchanh Sintavong,
Vice-minister of Public works and transport, during the closing ceremony of the seminar
Vientiane 2030 is taking shape
now
This two-day event also enabled
the Lao public to discover certain
elements of the "Vientiane 2030"
master plan, presented by members
of the Public works Institute. For
solving transport problems, the
project includes, among other
things, the creation of parking
areas and the improvement of the
public transport network.
For medium and long-term
sanitation in the capital of Laos,
the objective of the "Vientiane
2030" development plan is to
improve wastewater treatment by
increasing the number of drainage
channels and renovating the sewage
system. Furthermore, the different
organisers had turned the main
hall of the International conference
centre of Vientiane (ICTC) into a
"discovery area", which allowed the
uninitiated audience to familiarise
themselves with the other urban
development projects undertaken
in Southeast Asia.
This regional seminar is in keeping
with the French cooperation's
reflection cycle on Southeast
Asian cities, initiated in Jakarta on
19 and 20 October 2010 during the
conference on “Metropolises and
Urbanisation in Southeast Asia.
Challenge and Tools in the context
of climate change".
The findings of this seminar were
presented at the 5th Regional
Urban Forum, organised by the UN
Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
from 22 to 24 June 2011 in
Bangkok on the theme of "Cities of
opportunities: partnerships for an
inclusive and sustainable future".
In the main hall of the ICTC, a Lao student brings colour to the plans of the city of
Champassak drawn by Thai students from the Chulalongkhon University of Bangkok
France in Laos
9
What's on at the French Institute?
Let's make music!
O
rganised in Laos on Saturday 18 June, the music festival was in full swing for more than 12 hours in
Vientiane. Hundreds of spectators gathered at the French Institute and the Kop Chai Deu restaurant
to see amateur or seasoned musicians perform.
Once again this year, the French Institute honoured
music. Twenty three bands took their turn during more
than twelve hours on the three stages made available for
the occasion (Main stage and Small stage of the French
Institute and Kop Chai Deu restaurant). Styles included
rock, blues as well as the harp and piano.
all over the world and the French Institute has celebrated
it since 2003. Focusing on cultural diversity, this latest
edition successfully managed to bridge the gap between
people, as the bands performing were from various origins
and sang in several languages, mostly French, English and
Lao. Like every year, the programme promoted musical
eclecticism (R&B, rock, pop, classical music etc).
This event was marked by the performance of different
bands offering a
broad variety of
musical
styles,
including:
"Toilet
Man", firm believer
in dynamic rockn-roll, "Indonesian
groove", a mixture of
songs and drums, as
well as several pupils
of the international
lycée of Bangkok,
among whom was
the group "Hot
Alarm" who had
rehearsed for the
concert
several
times a week since
September.
The music festival,
organised for the
first time in France
in 1981, has spread
The crowd got
bigger throughout
the day and the rain
did not spoil the
festive atmosphere
of the evening. The
energy of bands like
"Big eye fish" and
"Deep Heart" was
infectious, keeping
the public on their
feet until late into
the night.
Eclecticism, talent and good humour made the success of
the 2011 edition of the Music Festival in Vientiane
The star turn was
the performance
of Celtic rock band
Merzhin, present
in Laos as part of
their "2011 Asian
Tour" and guests
of honour at this
music festival.
Coming soon to the French Institute
Drawing
The French Institute of Laos is launching a major manga
drawing competition, with a choice of two themes: "fight
against counterfeit medicines" and "forest conservation". If
you are interested, please register with the media centre
or directly at www.if-laos.org
Films
The French Institute will show seven films this summer:
Dans la vie, Zim and co, Ça brûle, Je crois que je l'aime, La
question humaine, La fille du RER and Serko, a children's film.
Several weekly screenings are scheduled at 2.00 p.m. and
10
7.00 p.m. on Thursdays, Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Admission:10 000 kips
Back to school
In September, shows and cultural workshops are back
at the French Institute. On Wednesday 14 September at
7.00 p.m., a meeting hosted by Pascal Penot will tackle the
themes of Chinese language and writing, and on the 23rd at
7.00 p.m., the Khao niew company will perform a theatre
show of objects
Free admission for both events
France in Laos
Address book
Tailor-made fashion by « Couleur d’Asie »
T
rained in France and famous for her beautiful
style and sound advice, Viviane Inthavong gives
us a tour of her shop, Couleur d’Asie, which will soon
be accompanied by a new online selling website.
After studying fashion design in France, Viviane Inthavong
started her career by creating a few bag designs for a design
workshop working for luxury brands (Kenzo, Nina Ricci,
Chanel). In 1993, she decided to move to Laos. "Yani", her
first ready-to-wear store located on the Nam Phou Square,
enabled her to develop a large customer base among the
capital's expat community. In early 2010, renovation works
carried out in her building resulting in her opening a new
store a few hundred yards away, on rue François Nginn.
"Couleur d’Asie" is a unique outlet where each product is the
result of an inspired blend of expertise and personal design.
Acting as a fashion designer, seamstress and decorator,
the boss supervises the entire manufacturing process of
her patterns: design, cutting, choice of fabrics through to
marketing.
Using exclusively classic materials from Southeast Asia such
as cotton, silk or linen, Viviane Inthavong creates her own
patterns which she translates into a variety of dresses, skirts,
trousers, shirts, for women as well as men and children. In
addition, she designs and sells her own brand of furniture,
lighting and other household linen items (curtains, towels,
cushions).
France in Laos
The store is open every day from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
This is why she was selected to design and create in her
workshop the interior decor of the rooms of several 4 and 5
star hotels in the region.
Inspired by the latest Western trends as well as Lao artistic
traditions, her different ready-to-wear collections are at the
crossroads of European and Asian fashion: the unique style of
"Couleur d'Asie" lies in this successful blend of influences.
Couleur d’Asie,
François Nginn Road
PO Box 5675,Vientiane
New website: www.couleurdasie.net
11
Art and culture
Focus on the latest productions by EFEO
T
he Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) is a public school of a scientific, cultural and vocational
nature attached to the ministry of National education, Higher education and Research. The EFEO
is responsible for research and training in research, via fieldwork in all subjects relating to South,
Southeast and Eastern Asia civilisations. While the research of Vientiane's EFEO Centre primarily focuses
on historical study through philology and epigraphy, it also takes an interest in the domains of ethnology, art
history and archaeology.
Located in Ban Naxay, the Vientiane Centre includes a
research library unique in Laos, specialising in social sciences
and humanities, open to the public Monday to Friday from
8.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Website: http://www.efeo.fr/
New research on Laos
This issue of the Études thématiques collection was published
in September 2008,
edited
by
Yves
Goudineau
and
Michel Lorrillard. It
involves more than
thirty contributors of
various
nationalities
and contains articles
on recent research
conducted in and on
Laos in different social
science and humanities
domains.
Extracts from the general
introduction:
Following a slow and
difficult gestation period, significantly slowed down by
decades of war, research on Laos is now thriving in several
social science and humanities domains. This book intends
to reflect this new, albeit fragile, impetus by compiling
the contributions of many of those who have participated
in it over the past few years. It does not only intend to
mark a new era in scientific work on this country but also
an extended vision of Laos, no longer confined within its
current borders but seen through its regional historical
context; no longer isolated from the workings of the world
within a superficial tranquillity but involved in international
turmoil and struggling with development issues. This
collective publication also wants to raise awareness of
renewed perspectives, approaches, issues and questions.
(Y.G. & M.L.)
Recherches nouvelles sur le Laos - New research on
Laos, Yves Goudineau et Michel Lorrillard (eds). Études
thématiques n°18, EFEO. Paris-Vientiane, 2008. 678 pages.
ISBN : 978-2-85539-654-5
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Vientiane, architecture of a capital - Outlines, forms,
structures, projects
This book presents an original overview of the Lao capital,
a city in the process of rapid transformation. Since the
economic reforms undertaken in the 1980s by the RDP Lao,
the transformations of the Laos capital have changed rhythm
and scale. Redefining the principles of urban planning and
territorial administration requires new knowledge and skills
taking into account the specific characteristics of Vientiane:
its history, identity markers, forms and dynamics.
An unusual capital, holding on to certain characteristics
common to Southeast Asian cities predating European
colonisations, Vientiane offers a unique model of a capital
city in the contemporary Asian world. Neglected by research
on Asian cities for too long, its reintroduction into the field
of urban research constitutes an essential comparative
opportunity.
Two chapters of this publication were produced by the
Vientiane EFEO:
- "Vientiane and the Mekong: the city's situation within the
regional area and long-term perspectives": by mobilising all
existing sources, annals in the vernacular language, epigraphy
and archaeology, Michel Lorrillard underlines the importance
of Vientiane's position
within the geographical
and human ensemble
defined by the valleys
of the Mekong and its
tributaries
"Vientiane
and
archaeology": collection
of the most recent data
on the history of the
city of Vientiane based
on field investigations
and
archaeological
excavations.
Vientiane, architectures d’une capitale - Traces, formes,
structures, projets, Sophie Clément-Charpentier, Pierre
Clément, Charles Goldblum, Bounleuam Sisoulath, Christian
Taillard (dir.). Editions recherches, IPRAUS, 2010. 480 pages.
ISBN: 978-2-86222-071-0
La France in Laos
Josué Hoffet Lycée
« PATRIMONITO » competition
This international competition, in which Laos took part for the
first time, got pupils working on storyboards highlighting the
protection of world heritage sites. Pupils chose to highlight the
two world heritage sites in Laos: the city of Luang Prabang and
the Vat Phou site.
The following eight Hoffet lycée pupils sent projects:
Vaygnasack Onesy (5°), Kola Rousseau (5°), Anthony Purce (5°),
Vissa Chanthapasouk (4°A), Saysana Chansomphou (4°A), Laura
Bourge (4°A), Marion Apovy (4°A) and Malyphone de Peyrelongue (4°A).
On Monday 13 June 2011, in the library of the Hoffet lycée, Mr
Khamphanh Philasavanh, secretary general of UNESCO in Laos,
handed out participation certificates in the "PATRIMONITO"
competition.
Guillaume Nespoulous, principal of the Hoffet lycée, and ThiVon Muong-Hane, the teacher responsible for coordinating the
project, congratulate their pupils for their participation in this
project.
The footballers of the Hoffet Lycée on tour in Malaysia
F
rom 26 to 28 May 2011, twenty pupils from the
French lycée of Vientiane took part in the first
Asian football Cup for French schools.
This project came to fruition under the supervision of the
Hoffet School Sport Association (ASSH), founded in 2009 by
Julien Dandonneau.This association is now headed by Patrick
Duveau and Mathieu Verrier, who coordinated this project
in conjunction with the French lycée of Kuala Lumpur. This
first edition of the Asian football Cup for French schools
involved eight French lycées located in major Asian cities
(Bangkok, Hanoi, Shanghai, Phnom Penh, Vientiane etc.) and
took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 26 to 28 May.
Each school registered two teams: "Under 12s" (U12) and
"Under 14s" (U14). Off the pitch, the pupils stayed with
French families in Kuala Lumpur. The Hoffet lycée pupils, on
tour for one week, took this opportunity to enjoy cultural
activities accompanied by adults and familiarise themselves
with Malaysian history. In return, the delegation of the
Vientiane lycée had an exhibition stand presenting Laos and
its French lycée.
This Asian football Cup will be fondly remembered by the
Hoffet lycée pupils, who distinguished themselves by their
friendliness, the mixture of girls and boys in their teams and
the excellent behaviour of children in their host families.
The Hoffet lycée also distinguished itself on the pitch by
winning three prizes: "Fair play award" in the U14 category,
La France in Laos
The glorious delegation of the Hoffet lycée
at the end of the competition
as well as "Third place" in the U12 category and "Top
scorer" for Jona Rusconi who scored 17 goals.
The Hoffet lycée wishes to thanks its financial partners
once again, who made the participation of the pupils in this
important event possible: The Lao Consulting Group, the
GSL company, the "T’Chop Lai" gallery and the AGL.
Follow the daily exploits of the football team in the "Kuala
Lumpur 2011" section of the Hoffet lycée's website:
http://www.lyceehoffet.org/spip.php?rubrique76
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Association
Vientiane Accueil
14
France in Laos
News in brief
Awards
On 24 June 2011, Mr François Sénémaud, French Ambassador to Laos, awarded the insignia of Knight of the French
Order of Arts and Letters to Mrs Kongdeuane Nettavong
and Mrs Douangmala Phommavong as well as Messrs Bounleuane Boupha, Benoît Heuchenne, Douangta Manokoune
and Seune Phetsanghane.
On the same day, Mr Guillaume Nespoulous was appointed
Knight while Mr Patrick Beaudoin, Mrs Andrée Bilavarn Belmonte and Mr Bansa Oupathana were promoted to the rank
of Officer of the French Order of Academic Palms.
On 27 June, Mr François Sénémaud, French Ambassador
to Laos, presented Messrs Guy Apovy, Nao Boutta, Bounnheuang Songnavong and Bounthavy Sisouphanthong with the
insignia of Knight of the French National Order of Merit.
14 July 2011
On the occasion of France's National Day,
the French Ambassador and Mrs François Sénémaud will be
glad to welcome French people living in Laos
on Thursday 14 July from 6.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
in the French Embassy.
6 rue Setthathirath,Vientiane
Correct attire required
Admission conditional upon presentation
of the consular registration card.
Young people aged 16 and over are invited.
USEFUL NUMBERS
French Embassy (+856) 021 26 74 00
In case of emergency only: (+856) 020 555 14 751
Emergency Police Services 191
Vientiane Police (+856) 021 21 27 06
Fire Department 190
Medical centre of the Embassy (+856) 021 21 41 50
Emergency only: (+856) 020 56 55 47 94
International clinic Mahosot Hospital (+856) 021 21 40 22
l’Amitié Hospital (emergency) (+856) 021 41 33 00
Vientiane ambulance centre 195 or 21 26 11
Layout
Miss Maud Jäderholm & Mr Victor Brunelli
Contributions écrites
Mr François Sénémaud Miss Coraline Adam
Mr Arnaud Eyssautier
Vientiane Accueil
Mr Julien Dandonneau Mr Philippe Devaud
Mr Michel Lorrilard
Mr Ferdinand Boutet
France in Laos
Thai Hospitals
- Wattana Nong Khai (+66) 42 46 52 01
International contact: M. Paul, (+66) 8 18 33 42 62
Contact in Laos: M. Assanai, (+856) 021 24 00 97
- Wattana Udon Thani (+66) 42 24 19 56
- AEK clinique (Udon) (+66) 42 34 25 55
Alarm Centre in Bangkok: (+66) 22 56 71 46
Friendship Bridge immigration services
(+856) 021 81 20 40 / 81 20 37
Local UFE section (Association of French people
abroad) : ufelaos@gmail.com
Page layout
Press department of the Embassy
infopresse.vientiane-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Photographs
Miss Coraline Adam
Mr Arnaud Eyssautier
Mr Julien Dandonneau
Printed by Pankham Jampa Publishing
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